Musha-bashiri
This passage lies 50cm lower than the first floor’s main level. It is wider than other similar passages throughout the castle. It is called Musha-bashiri or “Warriors’ running passage”.
You can image this passage was constructed to allow samurai in full armor-during times of battle around the interior and help defend the castle from attack. Look carefully and you can see the outer pillars are set in arc. This is because they follow the line of the stone foundation that curves in similar fashion.
